Automatic checking machine for garments and other articles



May 25 1926.

N. T. WILEY AUTOMATIC cnscxme MACHINE FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER mucmas Filed Oct. 10, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25 1926.

N. T. WlLEY AUTOMATIC CHECKING MACHINE FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10

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AUTOMATIC CHECKING MACHINE FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENTO'FFICE.

- NATHANIEL T. WILEY, 0F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC CHECKING MACHINE FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

Application filed October 10, 1922. Serial- N0. 593,581.

I This invention is particularly adapted for use in or as a part of a rack or other apparatus for supporting and locking hats,

coats, wraps or other articles. In the type coin is essential for each successive use of the apparatus.

As oneimportant feature of. myinvention I provide a pluralityof pairs of ar-' ticle receiving, gripping or retaining members which are so inter-connected that the two members of, each pair may be locked in various different positions according to the size or thickness of the article tobe locked.

As a further feature I provide means .whereby one pair of members may belocked in one position, for instance in en agement with a bulky or thick article, an another pair may be locked in a different position, for instance in engagement with a very thin or small article. In other words, the spacing of one pair does notcontrol or ,deter-' mine the spacing of the other, but all members are controlled by the same coin and key mechanism. 7

As a furtherfeature I provide improved mechanism for preventing the insertion of the coin except when the parts are in a predetermined position in their total cycle of movement.

As a further feature I provide animproved key-operating mechanism for retaining the parts in, or releasing them from any locked position, but preventing the removal of the key until after the locking operation has been effected;

As a further'feature I provide improved means whereby the unlocking of one articleretainin'g member and the movement of it to open position automatically unlocks. the

' other article-retaining members, irrespective of he position in whlch the latter may have been locked.

As a further feature I provide improved A means whereby the article-retaining .mem-

bers are normally held against movement to locking position except upon the insertion .of 3. 00111, and the coin itself is positively forced to a position in which it releases said members upon anunrestricted but limited movement of one ofsaid members.

The preferred form of my improved device as hereinafter described in detail involves various other features of importance which will be apparent from a studyof the construction, or Will be pointed out hereinafter. a 1

All of the features are preferably incorporated in a single apparatus, and cooperate'to produce a unitary result, but it will be apparent that apparatus might be designed within the scope of my invention, and in which certain of the. features are omitted or materially modified as to con struct-ion or principle of operation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the parts in openposition, certain of the parts being slightly broken away. 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the parts in dotted lines in'the open posltion, and in solid lines in the closed or looking position.

of the casingbeing removed and the view being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the parts being in raised or unlocked position. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional details Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, the rear wall on the lines 4-4, 5-5, 6 6, and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig- 4, but showing the parts in lowered or locked position.

In the specific apparatus in connection with which I have illustrated a form of my invention, there is provided a casing 10 adapted to be secured to a wall or any other suitable support, and provided with two members adapted to receive garments or other articles to be locked. These are illustrated as arms 11 and 12 rigid with the front wall of the casing 10, and mounted one above the other. The lower arm 11 is turned upwardly at its outer end, and is provided with a rubber or other yielding or resilient supporting face 13. This is roughened to better prevent an article such as a coat, wrap, or the like, from slipping-0E. The

upper arm 12 is particularly adapted to sup- Y port a hat, and has a curvedupper face 1% presenting a pair of spaced resilient pins or blocks 15 for engaging with the hat or other article at spaced points.

F or cooperation with the supporting arm 11 there is provided a vertically movable arm 16 having at its outer end a dome or inverted cup shaped member 17 adaptedto move down over the outer end of the arm 11, so that any article, particularly such as a coat or the like, may be firmly held on the face 13 of the member 11, and its removal from the arm 11 positively prevented. To further prevent the garment from being slipped ofi of the arm 11 when the member 17 is in lowered position, the inner surface of the dome may be provided with a plurality of spring fingers 18 each having a free end adapted toyieldingly press the article on to the yielding face 18. As the spring fingers project inopposite directions, any attempt to slip the article off the supporting surface 13 will be prevented by the catching of the article on the end of one of the spring fingers.

For preventing the removal of an article from the upper member 12, there is provided a vertically movable arm 19 having a terminal head 20 disposed above the outer end of the arm 12. The under surface of this terminal head may have substantially the same curvature as the upper face 1 1, and it may also be provided with a pair of spaced resilient pins or blocks 21 adapted to be pressed against the upwardly projecting pairs 15 on the" arm 12'. V

The arms 16 and 19 are vertically movable, and are shown in raised position in Fig. 1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. An article, such for instance as a coat, may be hung on the arm 11, and a hat on the arm 12', and by lowering the arms 16 and 19 these articles will be firmly gripped on their supports.

The parts above described are illustrated in their preferred form, but the details thereof form con'iparatively minor features of my invention. These articles supporting and gripping members may be varied widely, dependent upon the character of the articles which it is desired to support and lock.

My invention relates primarily to the means for operating and controlling the vertically movable members 12 and 19, each of which forms one of a separate pair of article supporting and retaining members.

The operating and controlling mechanism within the casing includes twoseparate vertically slidable members, one rigid-1y con nected with the arm 19, and the other rigidly connected with the arm 16'. These may be independently locked in various differentlowered positions, although neither can be operated except upon the insertion of a proper coin, and both are released by the action of a single key. The arm 16 projects through aslot 22 in the front wall of the casing 10, and is rigidly secured to a vertically slidable bar 23. The lower end of the bar is held in a pair of guides 24 secured to the front wall of the casing, and a spring 25 connecting the lower end of the bar and the top of the casing moves the bar to raised position when released. For positively moving the bar to lower or locking position, there is provided a handle 26 projecting through a slot 27 in a side wall of the easing, and connected to a vertically and endwise movable bar 28. This bar is rigidly connected to the bar 23 by a bracket 29. Extending parallel to the bar 23 is a ratchet bar 30, and this is rigidly secured to the bar 23 by the same bracket or connecting lug 29. The ratchet bar cooperates with a key-operated locking mechanism for holding the bar 23 in the desired lower and locked position. This mechanism is illustrated particularly in Fig. 6. The end wall of the casing carries a lock bolt 31 presenting a cam face or terminal portion for riding over the upwardly facing teeth of the ratchet bar 30, as the latter moves downwardly. The bolt is yieldingly held in operative position by asuitable spring 32, and is guided in a casing 33 attached to the side wall of the main casing. 3y the insertion of a key 3 1 the bolt 31 may be moved back against the action of the spring 82, and drawn out of engagement with the ratchet bar 30. The position of the key-receiving slot 35 is such that the key cannot be inserted or withdrawn except when the locking bolt is in operative position be tween two of the teeth of the ratchet bar 30. When the ratchet bar is in raised position, the end of the locking bolt engages with a flat or untoothed extension on the ratchet bar 80, as shown in Fig. 6, and the key cannot be withdrawn from the slot. As soon as the ratchet bar 30 is moved down to such a position that the end of the locking bolt may enter between two teeth of the ratchet bar, the key may turn to such position that it may be removed from the slot. Thus no one can remove and carry oil the key until after he has lowered the garment retaining members 16 into operative position, and as soon as he re-inserts the key to release the ratchet bar 80 and its connected parts, and permit them torise under the action of the spring 25, the key is held against removal due to the fact that the locking bolt is held in withdrawn position by the lower part of the ratchet bar 30.

In some instances it may be desired to permit free checking and locking of articles, but my improved device is primarily designed for use in such places where a charge is made for its use. This charge is insured by a coin-controlled mechanism which normally prevents the members 16 and 19 from being moved to garment-locking position until after a coin of the proper denomination has been inserted.

The device as shown includes a coin chute having its open upper end projecting through one face of the casing. This chute delivers to a coin receptacle 41 in the lower portion of the casing. Any suitable means may be provided for permitting access to,

this coin receptacle by the proper person. As illustrated, the receptacle is carried by a closure plate 42, and is vertically movable into position through an opening in the bottom of the main casing. The receptacle carries a lock 43 with a bolt 44 for engaging behind a keeper within the casing. Upon the insertion of a proper key through the key guide 45, the bolt may be withdrawn and the receptacle lowered through the opening and the coins removed. 7

The coin itself serves as apart of the mechanical means for effecting the release of the vertically slidable bar 23. A lever 46 is pivoted at the edge of the coin chute on a pin 47, and one end 48 of the lever 46 projects into the edge of the coin chute so as to serve as a stop for the coin when the lat ter is in the position A in Fig. 31 The other end of the lever 46 has a lug 49 pressed into engagement with the side edge of the bar 23, and disposed a short distance below a shoulder 50 on the latterwhen said bar is in raised position. Projecting into the coin chute at a point above the lower end 48 of the lever 46 there is provided a finger 51 which is rigidly secured to the bar 23. This finger may be integral with the bracket 29, the two being formed from a single transverse bar secured to the bar 23 by screws or any other suitable manner.

It will be noted that the lug 49 on the lever 46 is in the path of movement of the shoulder 50 on the bar 23, but is spaced a short distance below the latter so that the bar is free to move downwardly through a limited distance independently of any operation of the lever 46. As the finger 51 is rigid with the bar 23 and as it projects into the coin chute above the coin, a downward movement of the bar 23 will cause the finger 51 to engage with the upper edge of the coin and force the latter downwardly. The distance between the fingers 51 and the up per edge of the coin is such that the coin will be forced downwardly a sufficient distance to swing the lever 46 about its pivot and carry the lug 49 out of the path of the shoulder 50 before the latter has moved down into engagement with the lug. Furthermore, the character of the surface of the lower end 48 of the lever 46 is such that the coin is not entirely released and permitted to drop intothe coin receptacle until after the shoul- 'der 50 has passed the lug 49. Thus, the

drawn. leaves the garment or other article securely. locked. When he desires the article, it is downward movement of the bar 23 forces the coin downwardly and the coin swings the lever 46 to such a position that the further downward movement of the bar 23 is permitted. The device is normally locked in open position, and the arm 16 cannot be lowered to engage with and retain an article until after the coin has been inserted and caused to operate as above described. The

lever 46 is provided with a coil spring 52 which normally holds the lever in the path of the coin, as well as in the path of the shoulder 5'0, and the lower. end of the lever may be provided with a stop limitingthe movement of the lever under the influence of thespring. i

If the apparatus be so constructed as to have only a single pair of article supporting and retaining members, the arms 12 and 19 may be omitted and the operating mechaand presses it tightly on to the surface 13 of the arm 11. The downward movement of the handle has caused the finger 51 to move the coin'down until the lug 49 is out of the path of the shoulder 50. The further movement of the handle 26 brings the rack barinto engagement with the end of the locking bolt 31, and when the handle has 7 been depressed to limiting position the end of the lock bolt will be in one of the recesses between the teeth of the ratchet bar, and

will hold the latter down with the garment firmly locked. It will be noted that the member 17 may be locked at varying distances from the arm 11, as the lock bolt may enter any one-of the teeth of the ratchet bar 30. The lockingis automatic, and permits the handle26 to be pulleddown to whatever distance is permitted by the thickness of the article to be locked. The entry of the bolt into the space between the ratchet bar teeth permits the key to rotate into alignment with its slot, so that it may be with- The user removes the key, and

merely necessary to insert the key and turn it to withdraw the lock bolt 31. Immediately the spring 25 will liftthe bar 23 and the, arm 16 which is carried by the latter, and

' the garment or other article will be released.

"As previously noted, one of the important features of my invention is involved in the provision of aplurality of pairs of articleretaining members which may be locked in independently adjusted positions. As

shown, the arm 19 is secured to or formed integral with a longitudinally slid-able bar 6O,v which is preferably directly superposed on the bar 23, and positioned by the guides and a guide 61 on the top wall of the casing. This sliding bar, together with its arm 19, is normally held in raised position by a spring 62 extending from the lower end of the bar to the upper end of the casing, and is forced downwardly together with the bar 23 by a pin 63 engaging a shoulder 6% on the edge 01" the bar 60. This shoulder is below the pin 63, and does not prevent the bar 60 from being moved downwardly to a greater distance than the bar 23. The bar 60 has a shoulder 65 similar to the shoulder 50 of the bar 23. The two shoulders are normally at substantially the same elevation, and the lug i9 is of such a height to engage with both shoulders. Therefore the lug serves to prevent more than a limited downward movementof the bar 60, except upon the insertionot a coin. It will be noted that it the two bars 23 and 60 are moved downwardly to the same distance, and the bar 28 is locked by the ratchet bar 30, the bar 60 will be also locked down by the pin 63 and shoulder G l. In order that the bar 60 may be locked down it moved to a greater distance, this bar is provided along one edge with a series of teeth or a ratchet bar section 66. A pawl 67 is mounted on a pivot 68, and has a tooth 69 which may engage with the ratchet bar 66. A spring 70 tends to hold the pawl in operative position. For releasing the pawl 67 and thus releasing the bar 60, the bar 23 is provided with an arm 71 having a cam face adapted to engage with the upper end of the pawl 67 or a pin 72, on the latter to positively swing the pawl out of engagement with the edge of the bar 60 and against the action of the spring 70 when the bar 23 is in raised position. It'will be noted that as soon as the bar 60 is moved downwardly, the arm 71 moves out of engagement with the pawl 67 and the spring 70 forces the tooth 69 against the side of the bar 60. Thus as soon as the bar 60 has been moved down far enough to bring its ratchet bar section into engagement with the tooth 69, the return movement of the bar 60 will be prevented.

lVhen the device is employed for retaining 'wo articles of diiierent thickness the thicker article is placed on the lower support 11, and the thinner on the upper sup port 12. The coin is inserted and the handle '26 pulled down as hereinbetore described to securely lock the article on the lower sup port 11. At the same time the arm 19 with its clamping head 20 will be brought down to the same extent but it the article on the upper support be thinner than that on the lower supportythe upper article will not as yet be firmly secured. The user then grasps the head 20- or the arm 19 and moves these parts down until the upper article is gripped with the desired pressure. This further downward movement of the member 19 will be permitted as hereinbeiore described by the movement of the shoulder (i l down from the pin 63, and the return movement of the arm 19 will be prevented by the engagement of the pawl 6'? with the ratchet bar section 66. Thus the two articles of niiaterially different thickness may each be eiiectively gripped with the same pressure, and their unauthorized removal prevented. W hen the user desires to release the articles, he inserts and operates the key as hereinbetore set forth. The first resulting action is the upward movement of the bar under the action of the spring 25. As soon the bar 23 approaches its limiting position the arm 71 engages the upper end the pawl 67 and swings the latter out oi engagement with the ratchet bar section c1 oi the bar 60, thereby releasing the latter. The spring 62 then raises the bar 60 and the article-retaining member 20.

Neither of the movable article retaining members can be moved to operative position except upon the insertion ot a coin, and both ar released by the single key 34, but the two may be locked in various relative positions.

In the apparatus it is necessary to insert the coin before the device can be used. It is therefore desirable that the insertion of coins be prevented while the device is in use. To accomplish this result I provide a lever pivoted on a pin 76 carried by a bracket 77, and having one end portion 78 projecting into the coin chute adjacent to the entrance opening of the latter, so that the lever may serve to prevent the insertion of coins. The lever is normally held in this position by the spring 79. The bar 60 carries a cam finger 80 which, when the bar is in raised position, engages with the lever and swings the latter against the action of the spring to withdraw the end from the coin chute. As soon as the bar has been moved down to any considerable distance, the cam finger moves away from the lever 75, permitting the latter to close the coin chute. Thus the coin chute is closed at all times, except when the operating mechanism is in raised position and the device is not in use.

In order to keep a proper registry of the operation of the machine, whereby the sealing ot coins from it may be detected, there preferably provided a counter 81 operated by a lever 82 and rod 83. This rod has its upper end guided by a lug 8% carried by a bracket 85 on the bar 60. This lug is between a pair of stops on the rod 83, so that when the bar 60 is moved to upper limiting position, the rod is pulled up, and when moved to lower position the rod is pushed down. Thus the counter is operated to advance the dial one unit each time the mechanismof the apparatus is actuated by the insert-ion of a coin. The entire casing may be mounted on any suitable form of support, and by any form of lugs or brackets. As shown, the top wall of the casing has a pair of lugs 85 with keyhole slots therein where by the casing may be detachably supported by slipping the keyhole slots over the heads of a pair of screws or nails in the wall.

It will be understood that the casing is provided with a rear wall to protect the mechanism from dust and dirt, and prevent tampering with the mechanism, although such rear wall is not shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

To render the operation of the mechanism' as silent as possible the bar is preferably provided with a resilient cushion 86 forming a portion of the shoulder 64, and the under side of the arm 12 carries a shock absorbing cushion or resilient member 87 serving as a stop to limit the upward movement of the arm 16 when the latter is released and pulled up by the spring.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a pair of article retaining members, separate slides connected to c said members and having separate ratchet sections, independent retainers for engaging members to locking position, and independ ent retainers for holding said members in article-locking position.

3. In combination, a pair of article retaining members, separate slides connected to said members, and each having a ratchet section, separate spring pressed retainers for engaging with said ratchet sections, means for operating one of said retainers to release one of said slides, and an arm carried by said last mentioned slide for engaging with the other retainer to release the other slide during the return movement of said first mentioned slide to normal position.

4;. A device of the class described, including two article retaining members, means for normally locking them in inoperative position, a handle for moving one of them to locking position and lost motion connections between said members for simultaneously moving the other member, said lost motion connections between said members permitting further movement of said second mentioned member.

5. A device of the class described, includ ing two article retaining members, means for normally locking them in inoperative position, a handle for moving one ofthem to locking position and lost motion connections between said members for simultaneously moving the other, said lost motion connections between said members permitting further movement of said second mentioned member, and independent means for retaining said members against return movement, and in any one of a plurality of relative positions.

6. In combination a pair of article retaining members, separate slides connected'to said members and having separate ratchet sections, separate retaining means engageable with the ratchet sections, and means for rendering the retainer for one slide inoperative whenthe other slide is in a predetermined position.

7. In combination a pair of article retaining members, separate slides connected to said members and having separate ratchet sections, separate retaining means engageable with the ratchet sections, and means for controlling the retainer for one slide by the other slide.

8. In combination a pair of article retaining members, separate slides connected to said members and having separate ratchet sections, and separate retaining means engageable with the ratchet sections, means rigidly secured to one slide for engaging and controlling the retainer for the ratchet section of the other slide.

Signed at Cambridge in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts this second day of October A. D. 1922.

, NATHANIEL T.WILEY. 

